Princess Academy: Palace of Stone (2012) by Shannon Hale
(second book in the series)
Miri of Mount Eskel is traveling to the city of Danland for a year to help prepare for Britta’s royal wedding and to attend the university there. Joining her are five other academy graduates and Peder. Life isn’t quite as ideal as they had all imagined it would be in the big city. The king has been demanding higher and higher tributes, the people of Danland are hungry and scared, and it seems only a matter of time before a revolution. Miri is caught between her determination for fair change and her loyalty to her best friend, the future princess. She also finds herself confused by feelings for a new admirer and her realization that her world has become bigger than her simple life on Mount Eskel.
As with all of Shannon Hale’s books, this novel is masterfully told. The humanness, courage, intelligence, and humor of Hale’s characters is endearing. Palace of Stone is definitely a weightier story than the first Princess Academy book. Our young daughter begged me to read and tell her the first book and was giddy with excitement about hearing this second one. This book definitely required a lot more edited summarizing, rather than reading. It’s a wonderful book, and I love how Miri is able to find a courageous balance to hold on to all that is important and dear to her.